Before extolling the virtues of anodised aluminium let’s clarify the anodising process itself.
Anodising is an electrolytic process which has been established in the architectural sector for the past seventy years.
Aluminium naturally possesses an oxide film on its surface. This oxide film acts as a barrier to corrosion and is the one of the main reasons aluminium is considered a low maintenance and therefore cost effective metal.
During the anodising process, the natural oxide film present on the metal’s surface is thickened by an electrolytic treatment into a hard abrasion resistant finish.
- Perforated aluminium in anodised finish
The thickened aluminium surface has a number of advantageous properties as compared with aluminium in its raw state. These significant advantages include the development of a silky smooth satin finish and a surface which is also more resistant to knocks and scratches and general wear and tear.